Stopping device for looms or the like



Feb. 21, 1933. F. B. GIBBS STOPPING DEVICE FOR LOOMS OR THE LIKE Filed July 29, 1932 27822 Zoz:

Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK IB. GIBBS, OI PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB '10 RHODE ISLAND wm STOP EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A. CORPORATION 01 MAINE STOEPING DEVICE FOR LOOMSOB THE LIKE Application nledluly 29, 1982. Serial No. 885,712.

This invention relates to a deferred-action stopping-device for use with looms or other textile apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified which actuates the stopping mechanism of the machine or apparatus at a predetermined point in its cycle of operation. Obviously, it has the reciprocal capacity to start operation of the apparatus, as well; and therefore is adapted to re ulate or time the starting or stopping o apparatus. The device is particularly adaptable for effecting stopping of a box-loom upon exhaustion of the filling of any individual shuttle, with the exhausted shuttle in the plain box, so called.

My invention is herein described, by way of example, as applied to use with a 2 x 1 box-loom. In looms of this type it is necessary that the stopping of the loom occur with the fourth shuttle flight after action of the feeler which detects the depletion of the filling.

A further purpose of. my invention is to provide a deferred stopping-device having a knock-01f mechanism of a type similar to that shown and described in a copending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 617,308, filed June 15, 1932.

In the accompanying drawing, which constitutes a part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the improved device with its cover removed;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing taken connection between the device and the start-- ing and stopping mechanism of a loom;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a modified form of ratchet mechanism employed in the device; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View showing the electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the device.

Referring to the drawing, a cam 1 is mounted on a continuously rotatin shaft 2 of the loom. A bracket 56 secure to the loom-side 3 supports a casing 4 in which is mounted the knock-off mechanism to be later described. Fast in the side of the casing 4 is a stud 5 on which is mounted a rockable lever or follower 6 and a ratchetwheel 7. The latter elements are rotatable independently of each other on the stud and are held in place thereon by. means of a cotter-pin 8.

' The follower 6 is of substantially T form having a relatively long arm, or follower portion 10, and a shorter cross-arm 11. At the junction of the long and short arm 10 and 11 is a hub 9 for receiving the stud 5. The follower-arm 10 extends in a generally horizontal direction while the crossarm 11 extends at right-angles thereto. The ends of the cross-arm 11 are pointed to form upper and lower detent-shoulders 12 and 13.

The upper shoulder 12 is engageable with a shoulder 14' formed in the lower-edge of- 4, see Fig. 2. The upper detent-shoulder 12 is normally engaged by the shoulder 14 of the detent-lever 15 and through this engagement the follower-arm 10 is held upwardly out of the path of the rotating cam 1.

The detent 15 is connected by means of a link 18 with the plunger 19 of a magnet 20 which is mounted upon the top of the casing 4. .Referring to Fig. 5, the magnet 20 forms a part of an electrical circuit 22 deriving energy from a source of supply, herein indicated by the transformer 21. One side of the circuit is grounded in the loom frame by attaching the circuit wire to the loom-side 3 or to some electrically conductive part attached thereto.

The other side of the circuit 22 extends to a switch 23, from the switch 23 to the magnet 20 and thence to an electrical detector of any suitable type. As herein shown the detector may comprise an electrical feelerdevice 24 of a well-known construction having a pair of contact units 25 and 26. The unit 25 is connected with the circuit 22 while the other contact unit 26 is grounded in the loom frame 3. The switch 23 is controlled by the starting and stopping mechanism of the loom so that when the loom is in operation the circuit is closed by the switch and open only at the detector 24. When the detector closes the circuit upon occurrence of a fault in the weaving operation, or other occurrence requiring a stopping of the loom, the circuit is grounded and the magnet is energized as before explained to lift the detent-lever 15 and thus release the follower 6 to permit it to fall into the path of the cam 1. The cam 1 in rotating engages the end of the follower-cam 10 and turns the follower 6 on its pivot-5. A pawl 28 fast on the follower-arm 10 is used as a means for intermittently turning the ratchet-wheel 7 through a part of a complete revolution. The turning or indexing of the wheel 7 actuates a knock-off mechanism, to be later described, which in turn operates the stopping mechanism of the loom. During its movement in arresting the drive for the loom the stopping mechanism opens the switch 23 to disconnect the electrical circuit from its source of energy 21.

The pitch of the teeth 27 of the ratchetwheel 7 is Such that the follower 6, during one revolution of the cam 1, turns the ratchet-wheel 7 through the distance of one tooth. The shaft 2 may be either the bottom or cam-shaft of the loom or any other shaft which rotates at a speed which is half the rotative speed of the crank-shaft. The crank-shaft causes a pick or flight of the shuttle across the lay of the loom with every revolution thereof; hence two revolutions of the cam 1 effects four shuttle flights. After the feeler-device 24 detects a pending fault, the shuttle is traversed or picked four times along the lay of the loom in order that it will be positioned at the correct box-end of the loom. During the four picks of the shuttle the cam 1 makes two complete revolutions to twice raise the follower-arm 10. At the completion of the second revolution a knock-off mechanism, to be later described, is operated to effect stopping of the loom.

On the outer face of the ratchet-wheel 7 are projections or pins 29, one for each two ratchet-teeth. The pins 29 are adapted to engage the tip 49 of a lifting-lever 30 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 31 fast in the casing 4. The lifting-lever 30 is rockable on a reduced portion of the stud 31 and held thereto by a cotter-pin 33.

Rotatable in a bearing 34 of the casing 4 is a rock-shaft 35 which is connected with the starting and stopping mechanism of the loom by any suitable means such as a knockoff lever 36 mounted fast on the rock-shaft 35, a knock-off rod 37 and a dog 38. The rock-shaft 35 is provided with a depending arm 39 having a projection or stud 40 at or near its lower extremity. The lifting-lever 30 has at one end a projection 41 upon which is pivotally mounted a link 42. At the bottom of the link 42 is suspended a lever 43 having an arm 44 which terminates in a hook 45. A weighted arm 46 extending from the opposite side of the pivot normally tends to overbalance the hook-arm 43 to maintain the latter in raised position.

The counterbalance arm 46 has a vertical slot 47, through which the stud 40 at the end ofthe rock-shaft arm 39 projects, the arm 46 being held on the stud 40 by a cotter-pin 48. The stud 40 serves to both limit the rocking movement of the lever 43 and to so connect the arm 39 and the lever 43 that movement of either is imparted to the other. The use of the hook lever 43 with a counterbalanced slotted end 46 in connection with a rockshaft 35 forms the subject matter 'of the pending application before referred to.

The tip 49 of the lifting-lever 30 is adapted to be successively engaged, moved, and released by each of the pins 29 as the ratchet-wheel 7 is rotated in the manner above explained. Before the ratchet-wheel 7 is indexed, one of the pins 29 is positioned above and in close proximity to the tip 49 of the lifting-lever 30. The cam 1, in turning, raises the follower arm 10, and through means of the pawl 28 moves the ratchetwheel 7 throughthe space or pitch of one tooth. This movement advances the pin 29 to depress the tip 49 of the lever 30 and raise its opposite end whereby the hook 45 of the lever 43 is simultaneously elevated. Retrogressive movement of. the ratchetwheel 7 is prevented by a spring-pressed check-pawl 57 pivoted on the shaft 31. During the advancement of the ratchet-wheel 7 by one tooth, the bottom end 13 of the crossarm 11 passes over the hook 45 as the latter is rising. Continued movement of the cam 1 lowers the follower-cam 10 and moves the bottom end 13 of the cross-arm contra-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1. In this return movement the bottom end 13 slides across the hook 45 and due to the fact that the hook 45 has been raised into the path of travel of the end 13 it is depressed by the end 13. \Vhen the cross-arm 11 has passed the hook 45 the latter again rises into the path of travel of the end 13. As the cam 1 is further rotated it raises the follower-arm 10 a second time turning it in a clockwise direction. At the same time the pawl 28 on the follower-arm 10 turns the ratchet-wheel 7 one more tooth. This carries the pin 29 to its second position releasing the extremity 49 of the lifting lever 30 and permitting the hooked lever 43 to drop when released by the follower 6. In the meantime the end 13 of the follower 6, impelled in a clockwise direction by the cam 1, encounters and moves the hook 45 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1. Through its connection with the hooked lever 43 the rock-shaft 35 is also turned in a clockwise direction.

The knock-off lever 36 which is fast on the rock-shaft moves the knock-ofi rod 37 and pushes the dog 38 against an arm 50 of the starting and stopping mechanism of the loom, releasing said mechanism and causing the loom to stop. The usual starting and stopping mechanism is spring locked and the actlon of the dog 38 in pressingagainst the arm 50 causes it to be released. The releasing action removes the arm 50 from the dog 38 leaving the knock-off rod 37 and all connected parts including the rock-shaft 35, its arm 39 and the hooked lever 43 free from restraint. This freedom lessens the pull of the follower 6 against the hook -45. Because the knock-off action occurs at the extreme lift of the cam 1, and because some time elapses between the release of the stopping apparatus and actual stopping of the loom, the cam 1 turns sufiiciently to allow the follower 10 to drop and cause its bottom 13 to recede from the hook 45. The hook 45 having been released from its elevated position through disengagement of the lifting lever .30 from the pin 29 is free to drop from its engagement with the follower cross-arm 11.

Incident to the. knock-off action just described is the advance of the detent 15 as described in the application above referred to. A stud 51 on the rock-shaft arm 39 engages in a slot 52 in the detent-lever 16 to provide that when the rock-shaft 35 is rocked clockwise during the stopping action the detent-lever 16 is moved contra-clockwise to advance the detent 15 until its shoulder 14 overrides the top 12 of the follower crossarm 11.

When the starting mechanism is operated to start the loom, pressure of the arm 50 against the dog 38 causes the rock-shaft 35 to turn in a contra-clockwise direction and through the instrumentalities above described the detent 15 is returned to its initial or normal position. The detent 15 in returning engages the top 12 of the follower cross-armll and withdraws the followerarm 10 from the functional orbit of the cam 1. The method of operation of the complete stopping device is as next explained.

Assuming that the loom has been started in the usual manner with the knock-ofi' rod 37 pushed toward the left as viewed in Fig. 3 and the lever 36 turned in a contra-clockwise direction. Through the means ofa suitable lever, not shown, the switch 23 is closed and the electrical current passes through the magnet 20 to the detector-device 24. The detent 15 acts to withhold the follower-arm 10 from engagement with the cam 1.

When the loom is in operation the shuttle is picked back and forth therealong and when a nearly exhausted shuttle is detected by the feeler-device 24 the latter acts to ground the electrical circuit. This action takes place at the forward stroke of the lay with the shuttle in the plain box. When the circuit is grounded the magnet 20 1s enerized to lift the detent 15 and release the ollower 6 which falls upon the cam 1 after the latter has passed the peak of its upward throw. The succeeding half revolution of the cam 1 corresponds to one pick of the loom and the near exhausted shuttle is picked into the drop-box. The drop-box immediately shifts, lining up. the other shuttle, which is assumed to be unexhausted, with the race. The follower 6 is lowered due to the descending contourof the cam 1, and the pawl 28 engages a tooth of the ratchet-wheel 7. The second half revolution of the cam 1 takes 'place during the second pick afterfeeler action, or during the flight of the unexhausted shuttle from the drop-box to the plain-box. During this pick the follower 6 is raised by the cam 1 and the ratchet-wheel 7 is advanced one tooth to raise the hooked lever 43 and bring its hook 45 within the range of travel of the follower cross-arms bottom end 13. The third half revolution of the cam 1 takes place during 7 the third pick or flight of the unexhausted shuttle back to the drop-box which again changes, lining up the exhausted shuttle with the race. Durin this third pick, the follower 6 drops bac following the descending contour of the cam 1 to permit the pawl 28 to engage a second tooth 27 of the ratchet-wheel 7. The fourth half revolution of the cam 1 corresponds to the fourth pick, or return flight of the exhausted shuttle to the plain-box. 'It is during this pick or shuttle flight that the actual knock-0E actiontakes place in the manner as before explained. The stopping of the loom is almost instantaneous and comes to rest with the exhausted shuttle lodging in the plain-box.

Fig. 4 shows a ratchet-wheel or cam 53 having lobes 54 which replaces the pins or lateral projections 29 in the construction above described and which act to raise the lever 55. The modified lifting lever 55 has a lateral follower 56 engageable with the lobes 54. The other parts connected therewith are identical with those previously de-' scribed and therefore need no further de- 5 scription.

The present specifications illustrates two preferred embodiments of the device by way of example, but it is to be understood that the construction and arrangement of its mechanism may be varied and its method of application to the loom may also be altered without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself to the exact form of construction as herein shown and described, I claim:

1. In a deferred action stopping apparatus, the combination with a member to be moved with stopping effect, a movable member, means to reciprocate the movable member, and a detent to withhold it from reciprocation, of a coupling device for connecting the two members, a wheel having teeth and other projections of different number than said teeth, a pawl on the movable member adapted to engage the teeth to advance the Wheel, connections through which the projections on the wheel shift the coupling device to engage and disengage the two members, and means to release the movable member to permit it to engage the reciprocating means and act upon the member to be moved for the purpose specified.

2. In a deferred action stopping apparatus, the combination with a member to be moved with stopping effect, a reciprocable member, means to reciprocate said member, and a detent to withhold said member from action of the reciprocating means, of a coupling device to connect the two members, a wheel having teeth and projections in number different from that of said teeth, a pawl on the reciprocating member to engage said teeth and advance the wheel with each reciprocation, connections through which the projections raise and release the coupling device to couple and uncouple the two members, and magnetic means to release the reciprocable member from its detent and yield it to the action of the reciprocating means as described.

3. In a deferred action apparatus for a stopping device, the combination with a member to be moved, a reciprocating member, means to reciprocate said member, and a coupling device to connect the two members, of a ratchet wheel with other projections than the ratchet teeth and of different number, a pawl on the reciprocating member for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel to advance the latter, a check pawl to hold the ratchet wheel after each advance, a lever through which the projections of the wheel act on the coupling device to connect and disconnect the two members, and means connecting said lever with the coupling device.

4. In a deferred action apparatus for a stopping device, the combination with a reciprocating member, a normally non-moving member, and devices for coupling and uncoupling the two members, of a toothed wheel having projections in number different from the number of teeth on said wheel, a stud adjacent the wheel, a check pawl mounted on said stud to engage the teeth of said wheel, a lever also mounted on the stud to engage the projections of the wheel to be moved thereby, connections between the lever and the coupling device, and a pawl moved with the reciprocating member to engage the teeth of the wheel and advance it with each reciprocation for the purpose specified.

5. In a deferred action stopping device,

the combination with a member to be moved, a movable member, means to move the movable member and a detent to withhold the latter from action, of a normally inoperative coupling means to engage the two members, a wheel for controlling the coupling and uncoupling means, a pawl on the movable member for turning the wheel, and means to withdraw the detent to release the movable member to permit it to actuate the member to be moved through connection with said coupling means 6. In a deferred action stopping device, the combination with a continuously rotating cam, stopping mechanism operated by the cam, and normally inoperative connections between the cam and sald stopping apparatus, of a wheel for controlling said connections, means actuated by the cam for operating upon said wheel to control said connections, and means for rendering the controlled connections operative.

7. In a deferred action stopping device, the combination with a continuously rotating cam, stopping mechanism actuated by said cam and normally inoperative and uncoupled connections through which said cam acts upon said stopping mechanism, of a wheel to couple and uncouple said connections, means to transmit the action of the wheel to said connections, a dog carried by said connections through which the cam actuates the wheel, means to normally withhold the said connections from action of the cam, and magnetic means to release said connections to action of said cam.

8. In a deferred action stopping device, the combination with a continuously moving cam, a member to be moved by the cam with stopping effect, of a follower to transmit the cams action to said member, normally uncoupled connections between the follower and member, a wheel to couple and uncouple said connections, means through which the ,wheel effects such coupling and uncoupling action, a pawl on the follower for turning the wheel, a detent to normally withhold the follower from the cam, and a magnet to withdraw the detent to release the follower and permit it to engage the cam.

9; In a deferred action stopping device, the combination with a rock-shaft to be moved with stopping effect, a continuously moving cam to act with stopping effect upon the rock-shaft, a follower upon which the cam acts and a stud on which said follower is mounted, of devices for coupling the rock shaft to said follower, a ratchet wheel mounted on the follower stud to control said coupling devices, connections through which said coupling control is effected by the wheel, a pawl on the follower to engage and drive the wheel as the follower oscillates, a detent to withhold said follower from the cam, and a magnet to withdraw the detent from the follower and allow it to follow the cam.

10. In a deferred action stopping device for looms, the combination witha lever, a. rock-shaft to be rocked by said lever, and

means to oscillate said lever, of a hook connected with said rock-shaft and normally V out of engagement with said lever, a ratchet wheel, connections through which the ratchet wheel raises said hook to engage the lever,

and means carried by the lever to propel the ratchet wheel and raise the hook into engagement with said lever as described.

11. In a deferred action stopping device, the combination with a member to be moved with stopping efiect, a lever to move said member, and means to oscillate the lever, of a hook on the member to be moved, means to raise the hook into engagement with the lever, a ratchet wheel provided with auxiliary projections to engage and operate the hook-raising means to couple said member to said lever and to be moved thereby, and a pawl carried by said lever for engaging and turning the ratchet wheel to permit engagement and disengagement of the hook and said lever.

12. In a deferred action stopping device, the combination with a stopping element to be moved, a lever to move said member, and

means to oscillate said lever, of a hook connected with the stopping element, means to shift the hook into engagement with the lever to couple the stopping element there to, a wheel with teeth and projections spaced differentlyfrom said teeth for engaging and operating the hook shifting means, and a pawl carried by said lever to turn said lever with each vibration.

, In testimony whereof -I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRANK B. GIBBS. 

